Tag: God’s Glory

A Burst of Grace

On By francesrogersIn GOD'S GRACE, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Adversities and events of the last several years kept me wondering if Jerry and I would celebrate a 50th year together.  Even as we planned and neared that day on July 28 it was with a little anxiety.  Lee, our daughter, called two days before all the family was to meet in S.C. for the weekend —Olivia had strep, and Emma, her younger sister had broken her arm.  Not to worry—Olivia was getting a prescription for an antibiotic, and Emma had an appointment to get her cast early on Friday morning; in time for them to arrive at our destination before Jerry and I got there. We had a blessed weekend with our family, returning home in time for the Lord’s Day morning worship. (To respond to the questions,  “What do you think about being married 50 years?”  “What is your secret?”  “What words of wisdom would you give us who are younger?” would require another post.)

On Monday my 72nd marker was passed; and for every milestone that I reach, there is a new, or renewed, vision of what may be ahead. When, by God’s grace, he gives another day it is usually accepted with a heart of gratitude, and a determination to know and to do His will that was not evident in my younger years.  We used to count years, then decades; now we “number our days” desiring to “gain a heart of wisdom” for the time we have left here.

These are all days of grace, and even with the grace that is given I often do not have the energy to accomplish all that I need to do.  Fulfilling my role as Jerry’s caregiver, keeping the home, cooking, gardening, shopping, etc. requires something beyond my capabilities.  When I look back on each day at what was done, I know, and praise the Lord, that it was by His grace.

There are special times, that, without any notice beforehand, I have a sudden strengthening to go about a task, and with a glad heart accomplish it with ease. From the first time this happened I described it as a “burst of grace.”  There have not been many; and now I pray for them, so that I can stop looking at something that needs to be done, and cross it off my list.

I think that the Lord may be planning to bless me with another “burst.”  Looking at windows that need to be cleaned, especially the kitchen windows, I see myself doing this.  Over and over, when I am at the sink during the day I picture how I will go about this; and so my prayer is for this “burst of grace” which, when it comes I know it will be of Him, and for Him—for His glory, and for my joy.

Amazed by His grace; caught up in His Glory  ~   Fran

GOD’S GLORY ~ Not Ours

On By francesrogersIn GOD'S GLORYLeave a comment

If God had created us for our own glory wouldn’t He have made life easier?  Why does starting, and getting through, a normal day require so much?  And why are we not satisfied and content with all that we do?  Is it not because God, our Creator, planned more for His creation than we are able to understand or to live up to, on our own.

He proved this, by leaving our first parents to themselves.  A day without the constant companionship of the Father left them open to their own imaginations and the temptations of this world, and they failed to live up to the standard by, and for which, they were created.

GOD is His own standard of excellence, a standard that no one can reach.  He must, through His own plan of redemption, bring us into this relationship of Father and child; and in His own timing and means of grace conform us to the image of His Son, Jesus Christ.  Without this we will continue to work for our own success and glory, hoping and trying to “be like God,” and failing miserably.

Only as He does a continual work in our hearts and lives by the authority of His Word and the supernatural power of His Holy Spirit, daily leading, teaching, and bringing us up in “the nurture and admonition of the Lord  Jesus Christ” can we ever know the true purpose for our creation and redemption—His glory and our joy.

“God is faithful, by whom you  were called  into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.”                     1 Corinthians 1:9

“Now to him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, world without end. Amen.”  Ephesians 3:20, 21

GOD’S GLORY ~ First and Last

On By francesrogersIn GOD'S GLORYLeave a comment

How do you bring children up “in the nurture and admonition of the Lord?”  Where do you begin?  My first grandchild was six years old, her sister was three, when the Lord impressed upon me the need for me to teach them.  I cared for them while Lee, our daughter, a physical therapist, worked two days a week.  During the summer months we began a series of study called Summer of Psalms, which we have been doing for thirteen years.  Ansley has outgrown the study, but Kourtney, now fifteen, and her sisters, Olivia, 10, and Emma, 8, just finished six days (one day a week) of Psalm 146.

What began with Psalm 100 has grown in the hearts and minds and lives of these children.  Many seeds have been planted each summer and we have watched the girls grow in the understanding that everything comes under one heading—GOD.

Everything begins with GOD

I didn’t know that those first lessons with the name GOD at the top of the blackboard would always be our starting point, and that we would always come back to that main point.  The whole series of study, consisting of seven particular Psalms, has stressed the person of GOD, His Lordship, and His glory.  The curriculum was built around His Word, His work, His salvation, His Son—Jesus Christ, His Holy Spirit, His name, His creation, His presence, His power, His kingdom, His grace, etc.

Even though we have booklets the Holy Spirit adds notes during our time of study.  I continue to learn as I am teaching.  The last day of study, which we call The Gathering (Christ, the shepherd and his sheep) we were looking at the meaning of the Alpha and the Omega as it relates to the beginning and the end, the first and the last.  So, when we asked the question,  “Where do we always begin,” their answer, as usual, was, “GOD.”

It was rather simple to follow that question with, “Where do we end?”

And right on time, in unison, they knew the answer—“With GOD.”

*Years ago the first question they learned from our church’s children’s catechism was, “Who made you?”

Answer: “God.”

The second question: “What else did God make?”

Answer:  “All things.”

Third question:  “Why did He make you and all things?”

Answer:  “For His own glory.”

Everything ends with GOD

First and last GOD will have all the glory.  There is much that will take place in our lives between the beginning and the end.  This is the time of His grace.  There are generations that will come and go between the beginning and ending of time on this earth. Within, and from His own glory, He has planned His work—“before the foundation of the world;” now He is working His plan—“according to the counsel of His will,” a plan that will end in His glory.

As He is leading me to place all things in the light of His glory, from beginning to end; seeing Him as head over all things in Christ; looking diligently to Him, “the author and finisher of our faith,” His glory is becoming the dominant factor and thought on my mind and in my heart.  By His grace He is revealing Himself to be the Alpha and Omega of my life, and the life of all those who are in Christ.

As He continues to shine into my heart “the light of the knowledge of His glory in Christ” more and more of my life is for His glory.  The more glory He reveals through His Word and His Spirit, and the more glory He receives from His work of grace in me, the more joy I experience in my heart and life.  The “unsearchable riches of Christ” given by a gracious Father are unfathomable, but ever growing to reveal more and more of His glory, until He is ready to receive us unto Himself—where His glory will be never-ending.

“I was brutish and ignorant, I was like a beast toward you.

Nevertheless, I am continually with you, you hold my right hand.

You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory.”

Psalm 73:23,24 ESV

* Foundations is a children’s catechism used at Christ Reformed Church (Reformed Baptist).  If you are interested I have this on a PDF File for loose-leaf binder.

Grace, Grace, and More Grace!

On By francesrogersIn GOD'S GRACELeave a comment

Dear Reader, please understand that the content of what you see here did not easily make its way to this webpage.  Even before computers came on the scene technology had been my foe. Our home has been without a television for fourteen years because of my addiction.

Most recently when our PC died we were encouraged to try a Mac, which we now have.  The contention has continued as I have not yet learned how to do what I want to do on it; so much time is spent just trying to use the documents from our PC which are in booklet form.  I do not “love my Mac.” Nevertheless, I am here on January 28, 2011, blogging—something I NEVER wanted to do.  In my thinking, blogging was akin to clogging. (Imagine this 71-year woman with the short skirt on the dance floor.)

Second Childhood ~ New Legacy

Many years before I ever wanted to use a computer God had drawn me to his Word, The Holy Bible.  Through my study, and prayer, He revealed Himself to me in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ.   Since then hundreds of articles, poems, essays, booklets, and books have been written of the experience of God’s grace in my life, (most writings being relegated to a Posthumous File.) My long-range plans for retirement was to be a simple wife, living a simple life, enjoying my husband and family, attending church without my services being required. All I wanted, as I had learned to wait on God, was for Him to “show me His ways, teach me His paths, lead me in His truth,” for me to do His will as humbly and simply as He would enable me to do.  He had always given me “the will, the zeal, and the skill” to do whatever He wanted me to do.

My union with Christ, not remaining stagnant, but always growing, and my communion with the Father, has been a result of His own working. By His grace, He has brought me to these latter years, and through many trials, rejoicing in Him.  This second childhood I am going through (I must be out of my mind to think that now is a good time to have books published, and to start a blog to be a support  for those who will read them,) needs more than my small bit of dust and time. This will require more wisdom, knowledge, and strength than this frail body is able to muster.

Filled, Fit, Fat, and Flourishing

The new birth in Christ that comes by-way-of the legacy of grace is like a second childhood experience.  The Father’s  inheritance comes through His Son, Jesus Christ~”For it pleased the Father that in Him all fulness dwell.”  (Colossians 1:19)  “And of His fulness have we all received, grace for grace;” (KJV)  “grace upon grace.” (ESV.)

How can we be satisfied with half a legacy? “To whom much is given much is required.” More grace is promised and required for us to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 3:18) To “taste of the Lord” is to see and know that “He is good.”  Just a taste will not do.  He promises that as we know and grow we shall be filled with “all the fulness of God.” (Ephesians 3:19)  It is a lifetime process.  A baby does not remain in a crib all his life, but is fed, happy and satisfied; and continues to be fed and to develop physically.  Like so, God, our Father makes us fit—enabling us to live the Christian life—to be “partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light; having delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son.”  (Colossians 1: 14)

At this age and stage are we to rebel and turn back?  I thought my life was full already.  Are we to sit back and rest on our laurels?  He promises that in old age His “righteous ones shall still bring forth fruit; they shall be fat and flourishing.” (Psalm 92:14)  God’s grace has no limits.  As long as we have breath we are His building, His field, His voice, His hands. Not physically able, nor mentally prepared, my dependence is solely upon the power of His Holy Spirit to work in me what He wants—what He is “exceeding abundantly” able to do in me. It will be more than we can ask or imagine. (Ephesians 3:20)

In the ministry of intercession my prayers continue for the working of His grace in the hearts and lives of His people—“earthen vessels” filled with the treasure of Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:7)  As a vessel created and redeemed for His use my heart’s desire is to desire what He desires.

The possibilities for a new ministry through this website are overwhelming.  And having a tendency to be carried away, I ask that you pray for me to stay focused on Christ, who is the center of my life; and not on what I think He can do through me. There is the potential for addiction to this technology as there is to anything else.

Please pray for those whose hearts and hands will help me in this new endeavor to share God’s grace and His glory—for His glory and our joy.

Addicted to His Grace  ~  Fran